I didn’t make it…

I didn't make the whole30 diet perfectly for 30 days. =(

The last night of my whole30 I found myself feeling frustrated, annoyed and my head in the toilet…

 I’d like to tell you it wasn’t my fault but I’d be lying.

I was overly excited thinking since “technically” my Whole30 started June 3^rd at dinnertime then I’d be done with it at dinner yesterday.

Sooo… When I was making my husbands protein shake after he got off work, I made a little extra for me too… because I have been dying to have one… (weird  I know!)

The shake consisted of:

1 scoop ISO Pure protein

6oz Almond Milk

1 tablespoon PB

½ banana

YES! It tasted delicious to my taste buds…. Not so much to my insides… Holy cramps! ALL night my tummy was yelling at me, telling me how mad it is that I would go from eating so great (minus 3 minor mishaps the whole time) for 30 days to having something completely off track.

Yet this is something I used to drink almost EVERYDAY!

I’m still feeling the affects today and can tell you I will not be straying too far from the Whole9/Paleo way of eating today or any other day!!!

I am seriously stunned flabbergasted that my body reacted this way! I shouldn’t be because when I ate off the plan 3 times (sweet potato fries, oatmeal w/ pb and a ½ glass of Rumchatata ...I know!! self discipline where you at??) during the challenge my body was not liking me too much either. 

In the book (It Starts With Food) it tells you to not have any cheats the whole 30 days or it will not work. I am going to have to say that is false! I made it 11 days with NO cheats and when I did slip my body was totally telling me, "What the (insert word here) are you doing to yourself!? This (insert another word here) doesn't belong in your precious body Lallenia!" I promise I never even had a full out binge or full meal of junk. Even a small portion and my body did not like it.

I can't believe how much I used to mistake the times I was not feeling great with the idea that I must be getting a virus when really it was because of the food choices I made. Seriously think about all the times you feel gross, bloated, under the weather, sluggish, depressed, unmotivated, etc.... think about what it is you are eating first before you go to the Dr and are prescribed some medications that will only be a temporary fix.

Here is something to gnaw on... (haha!! GNAW...nerd alert!)

When you place anything (food, pills, tobacco, alcohol, dog food... ok maybe if you're two...)  into your body, it needs to be absorbed and digested or  it is rejected. Your body decides what it will do with it based on what it is. Digestion involves mixing the substance with digestive juices, moving it through the digestive tract, and breaking down large molecules into smaller molecules. Digestion begins in the mouth, when you chew and swallow, and is completed in the small intestine.
It's a little more complicated than that but you get the idea right?

So why not digest foods that work with your body instead of against it? I mean after all if pills (which go through the same process) can help you feel better, don't you think eating the right kind of food can do the same?
What you put into your body is what you get out of it. There is NO other way around this.
SO WHAT you don't LIKE something... if it's good for your body and brain Eat it. Simple solution. I mean we aren't kids anymore....we buy our own food and make our own choices.

If you choose to fuel your body with junk, expect junk to come out of it. That's like putting oil in your gas tank.... good luck. Also don't sit there and complain about being over weight, having inflammation, not having any energy, feeling depressed, etc. Unless you are HONESTLY learning and working really hard to change your lifestyle. I see it all the time when people say I want to look like this or lose X amount of weight or run a mile this fast but yet they "don't like" broccoli and chicken or they don't like doing certain workouts. OK... obviously it's not that big of a deal to you or you would figure out a way to make it happen.

I relate with this scenario as well. I would LOVE to have a full 6 pack (abs not bud light) and a shredded back but I have  not been able to stick with a super strict diet and workout regimen to get it yet. I am healthy, strong and happy. I have attempted to train for a fitness show 3 times now and have had a traumatic event happen each time... pregnancy (yay for Wyatt!), shoulder dislocation, and shoulder subluxation. I am not complaining just saying life does get in the way BUT I have not let those events bring me down or let myself go. It is still on my bucket list of things to do.

Whole30 Review:
I am a HUGE fan of the Whole30 diet and way of life. I think the book (It Starts With Food) is one of the most educational, straight forward, and very well researched book out there in the world of diet and nutrition. The authors know their stuff and went to GREAT means of research to develop a resource at the tip of our fingers that will be saving and changing peoples lives! (all for $15 on amazon!)

They tell you straight up and I found out first hand; if you are doing this strictly for weight loss then this may not be the right book/diet for you. Weight loss does happen for most (95% of) people (especially for those who are overweight) but is not the reason for the "diet." This is ALL about resetting your metabolism, taste buds, digestive system, thinking, habits, and all around HEALTH. It is teaching you how to eat what your body needs.

When people focus more on being healthy rather than all the other junk then their bodies are able to perform correctly to reach other goals such as losing weight, gaining muscle and strength or becoming faster and feeling better.

My results:
I sleep deeper.
I have had NO sugar cravings... AMAZING.
I have had NO desire to binge.... AMAZING.
I have gained strength and feel tighter. (Had i followed it 100% and didn't get overly excited with snacking on nuts I guarantee I would be feeling even tighter and stronger.)
I have confidence turning down food that I don't want or need.
I LOVE making healthy recipes even more than before.
I am learning how to cook for my family to eat with me as well.
I didn't beat myself up on my mishaps like i normally would (you know... oh I just ate a couple bites I might as well eat the whole pie now)

I guess you can say this HAS changed my life. I feel like my life doesn't revolve around what I shouldn't be eating but yet what I SHOULD be eating.
I plan on sticking to paleo pretty closely. I am going to try to eat oatmeal again occasionally and sprouted bread with eggs if i desire, oh AND i LOVE my baileys and coffee on Sundays! But if my body says no thanks then why force it? After all your body knows what it needs better than stupid cravings and habits from your brain.

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!!!!!! Hope you are motivated to fuel your body and mind with explosive nutrition and sparkling thoughts =)

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*

PS Use a lettuce wrap for your burger or hot dog instead of bread.... you'll feel better if you do... promise!

I topped mine with mustard and grilled veggies with a side of Kale chips... YUM!

I am giving up.

Yep. I'm giving up on trying to write these blogs at night time. I am so NOT a night person and have found it hard to get to bed at a decent time if I try to write before I go to bed. Then I have a hard time falling asleep because my brain is wired. (for those of you who know me I am sure you're thinking when is it NOT wired Lallenia?)

I know I have been MIA the past couple days! No, I didn't fall off the wagon! Actually stronger than ever on this challenge! I just have been enjoying the company of my husband being home a little more this weekend and had a little cooking feast with the recipes from the success guide for Whole30. AMAZING! (i will give you the recipes in a bit!)

This is Day 22 of my Whole30 challenge (http://whole9life.com/). It is pretty amazing to me that I have not had the desire for anything sweet since I started! Nor have I had the urge to binge. (now if you follow me on pinterest I just pinned a bunch of delicious looking recipes because I have been in a cooking mood and they just looked yummy. I am sure i will still make some things occasionally that are not whole9 approved but not nearly as much as I would have before AND I like to see if i can create my own healthy versions!)

I am thinking the couple who wrote the book is going to make some doctors go out of business if we were able to teach out of this book in school. I honestly do not understand why they don't teach us how to take care of our bodies in school. They expect parents to do it for their kids, but these days half of the parents cannot even take care of themselves! I can only imagine how successful we could be as a nation if children were taught at a young age how food affects your brain and body. I bet we would make healthier decisions if we were educated correctly. 

Not just from some Dr. on TV making money from telling us to go buy some supplement to help us feel better. Same with the packaged food that reads healthy heart or high fiber.... it is ALL a way of making money. Whoever is selling you their food or product is not concerned about you and your family. The companies are concerned about themselves and their families condo in Italy.

It is up to YOU to educate yourself and your family if you want to live a healthier lifestyle. I do not just mean a "skinny" or "fit"  lifestyle. I mean healthy as in wake up and feel confident in yourself and your abilities. I believe it all starts with what is on your plate. 

Remember; I did not have a family that was super supportive, loving or that encouraged me to be healthy (actually just the opposite). I made these changes on my own. So don't sit there telling me your excuses. I have not always been fit and confident, I have had many struggles and abuse throughout my life, probably more than many of you can imagine, and many ups and downs in weight and fitness levels.

 No,
 I don't want sympathy or attention from it all. I want you to use it as motivation for wherever you are starting. I absolutely HATE when i hear "You don't get it, You've never had to struggle with food or working out." I better stop right there because I will go on more of a tangent. 

Whew!! I am all worked up now.... *deep breath*....
As you can see I get a little passionate because I want people to be believe in themselves that they can overcome any obstacle that may appear in front of them. It's not always easy... I get it.  That doesn't mean it can't be done, and yes you may will have to work for it! 

I am finding a true love for cooking lately. I guess that means I am turning into a foodie? I don't know what that is.. .I suppose I can ask my search engine and it will tell me. (yep! I just looked it up and I fit right in!) 

This past weekend I made Shrimp and Salmon Chowder Paleo style... seriously delicious. I was excited beyond belief! I blew up the recipe for you below the picture. Unbelievable taste. Only thing i would have changed was to crisp the bacon a little better than I did and crumble it. 

I also made their beef and sweet potato stew in the crock pot. (haha and it's 90* outside... but these dishes are SO easy and so delicious)
Just remember to only go 8 hours not 12... it was a little mushy but still awesome!!!

I made a couple more that we will be having leftovers for these next few days but I hear a little boy calling for me. I think that means my time is up for now!

Oh and seriously check out the Whole30 challenge and Melissa and Dallas Hartwigs book "It Starts With Food." It will serisouly change your life.

Remember, what you put in your body is what you get out of it. If you're not liking your performance in any area of your life right now... don't go running to a Dr for pills... change whats on your plate first.

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*

Sooooo FAKE!

A little riddle for the day....

What do fake friends and fake foods have in common?

Fake friends look good on the outside, spike your energy levels for a bit and tell you things you want hear to make them look good (oh.my.gosh. I just LOVE your hair tie!).   After they leave you feel like you were just slapped in the face, only hear from them when they need something, yet you want more and to be around them because you think maybe if I just do (this) maybe they will like me more. Eventually if you hang around them enough, they rub off on you and you find yourself becoming just as fake.

Fake food also looks good on the outside, has outrageous tastes that are unnatural, spikes your energy levels and is packaged in a way that tells you what you want to hear  (Oreos ONLY have 70 calories per cookie). Then after they are gone (in your precious body) you feel like crap, yet it's hard to stop eating them because of the addictive additives in them. Eventually your body will not look like it's self because it will be surrounded with obscene amounts of fat that doesn't belong on you.

See, both of these make real friends (who are there for you at the touch of a dial and will cry at their door step with you at 3am because of a stupid boyfriend) and whole foods (which satisfy your appetite and fuel your body to perform at its ultimate best ) look bland and boring compared to the excitement of the fake ones that only build you up at their convenience.

WHY does this matter Lallenia? I'm sure you've had a fake friend and didn't realize it until you were placed in a situation that it became apparent right?

Well, with food it's similar but people seem to get so sucked in to their habits it's harder for them to OPEN their eyes and wrap their brain around the fact that the "bland and boring" foods are what makes you feel better, look better, and perform better in ALL aspects of life.

But in all reality if the food is prepared right it does't have to be boring! Have you ever bitten into a prime rib and steamed broccoli cooked just the way you like it? YUM! (PLUS it satisfies you not wanting more) And NO real friends aren't boring either! Heck you may find yourself driving down the interstate with a red bra hanging out your window to support breast cancer awareness. ;-)

REAL whole foods and REAL friends make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside all day, everyday no matter what. Why surround yourself and consume anything less?


“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option.” 


 Moving on to another kick butt day at eating whole30 approved!
Breakfast is still my beloved sweet potato hash and 2 eggs. 


Snack was pistachios (i measured out serving)


Lunch and snack before cycle was a salad. (yep I had TWO of them!)


 Whats in my salad today?

Spinach

lettuce 

red onions

tomatoes

mushrooms

Sliced ham off bone

1/2 avocado

balsamic vinegar 

Salad vinegar 

Salt & pepper

Dinner.... you will LOVE this idea....

SEE!? Ins't it AWESOME! 

It's Wyatts plate! Now i cannot go overboard with my servings or I will know it.

Dinner was pretty much same as last night but I added butternut squash. (LOVE and SO EASY!)

 If you want to learn about the foods you eat (like i do because I am weird i know) I LOVE this site that explains it all in detail for u. --> This is one to squash... SO many health benefits! 

 http://whfoods.org/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=63.

I REALLY need to get some sleep but received this book in the mail yesterday and can't stop reading it.

YES! Thats the book from the people who developed Whole30! It is pretty awesome so far! But I LOVE learning about, as they call it the "science-y" side of what food is doing to your body and why we need to eat certain foods and how the bad stuff affects us.

I am also a big believer that when you know WHY you should be doing something and if the outcome is a what is wanted you are more likely to actually do it. Like eating your broccoli because of it's unique health benefits. Seriously! It's a superfood, look it up! 

Well, I'm off to snuggle my pretty awesome significant other and try to get away with keeping the reading light on until he tells me to turn it off and go to bed...

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*

I am shocked.....

Today I am shocked for a few reasons;

1.) I dislocated my shoulder in august of 2010 and had surgery in January 2011. Since then I have had some issues with it whenever i go to do pulls ups =(  (which REALLY sucks because those have always been my favorite to do and my motivation! Now I am physically unable to do them due to my injury) 

It usually swells really bad after i sublux it (partial dislocation). Today during boot camp I was demonstrating an exercise, subluxed my shoulder but it did not swell or get inflamed like normal. Yes, it is tender but NO inflammation. I swear this is due to the whole30 way of eating. I have read about how certain foods you consume cause your body to become inflamed easier, I am a strong believer of that now.

2.) I had a little break down last night and stole shared a bowl of oatmeal, chocolate protein powder and peanut butter with Wyatt (it's his bedtime snack to fill him up all night!). I wasn't happy with myself and do not have an excuse for doing it expect that i kind of REALLY wanted it. To my surprise it did not taste as good as it normally does (honest, the natural PB even tasted sweet to me which is ODD). 

I could REALLY tell that it makes my body feel bloated and icky just like the sweet potato fries did to me. I didn't expect this to happen because I have always considered this a "safe" snack. I am shocked how much your body can tell you if you really listen to it after eating whole foods. 

3.)  I am shocked that my urges to binge on foods have been getting easier and easier. I am feeling more in control of my cravings and self control (besides my urge last night which i DIDN'T binge). This is new to me. I have always had a love/hate relationship with food and my body. 

When i was adopted at age 9, my adopted parents had junk food all over. I used to steal candy bars (babyruths were my favorite) from my adopted dads stash all the time, eat them as fast as I could and as many as I could. Which slowly developed into an eating disorder called bulimia at age 13. I guess you could say I struggled with closet eating also. Especially once I got into the fitness field. I would be embarrassed to eat unhealthy and try to hide it which led to even more struggles with my self image and food. Also there were are SO many mixed messages on food I didn't know what was REALLY healthy and what wasn't. 

My nutrition books told me protein bars and white rice were healthy (bullish*t). SO here i am reading and learning as much as I can, only for the next certification or seminar I would go to tell me something different. I was all mixed up and I honestly believe the only thing that saved me was my love for exercise and eating what i considered "healthy" outside of my  disorder. 

Once I found out i was pregnant the disorder subsided  because I was so focused on growing that little boy strong and healthy. Afterwards I breastfed for year until my shoulder surgery then had a couple months of self doubt and depression. I soon started being able to workout again but still had some issues here and there with binge eating and bulimia. (not nearly as bad as the past). 

It has always been in the back of my mind like a silent struggle. Once i started truly eating healthy, whole foods I can tell you i have not had one single thought of a binge. I do not believe that eating disorders are genetic or because of a persons past like i used to believe. I can see now it is all a pattern and habit your brain forms. Once you are able to realize you need to fuel yourself with healthy, real, whole foods your body and brain will not feel the need to rely on the junk and binges. 

Why I just shared all this I am not sure... I guess that's why they call this a blog.... 

Alrighty then today was pretty awesome as far as food choices. 

Breakfast: Eggs and sweet potatoes (yum! I never get tired of this combo!)

Lunch: A delicious salad with sliced ham (off the bone) veggies, 1/2 avocado and balsamic and salad vinegar. 

Dinner: AWESOME! 

Sautee red onions for 5 minutes 

Then add ground turkey

After 5 more minutes add:

chopped bell peppers, broccoli, mushrooms 

Let it cook together until meat is fully cooked and veggies are a little soft.

Then add spinach and garlic to cook down along with natures seasoning and Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herbs. 

I allowed about 7 minutes here.

Then topped with avocado and ENJOYED! 

Ok it's WAY past my bedtime! I was a little chatty tonight! My hopes is that it will inspire you to take on the challenge of eating whole foods with me for 30 days and into the rest of your life. Even if it is one meal at a time. No matter who you are or where you are at in life it is NEVER too late to make yourself healthy. It all starts with your next bite of food. 

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*

Cramps caused from fat? day 14....

Having terrible stomach pains last night (Sunday) I was a little worried maybe it was caused from the higher fat in my diet. Rest assured. It's just my body telling me I am able to reproduce if I want. =)

I am curious to see the way my body reacts to this time of the month while on the whole30. The first day is always the worst for me so needless to say it was hard to do much activity. I did try jump roping and performing some push ups but a UTI and menstrual cramps are a horrible combination.

I hope you're not feeling sorry for me because you don't need too! Other than the cramps i'm feeling great! I only had 3 hours of sleep Sunday night due to my husband & I watching Immortals before bed so i kept waking up to the Greek God's cutting peoples throats off. Feel free to laugh at me, it's ok I'm a little ridiculous i know but I do not do well with movies unless they are happy (this why I LOVE Disney movies).

Monday morning was left over sweet potatoes and hash for breakfast. My brother had a 3 hour Dr appointment so we brought pistachios (YUM) and larabars.

Lunch was SUPER easy and really tasty!

2-3 pieces of minimally processed ham (or turkey) rolled over avocado and wrapped in romanian lettuce. I had 3 of these awesome  wraps. You can even add other veggies and meat for more variety. My brother and wyatt added muenster cheese. (how rude) but at least it's not all of it AND bread.... baby steps.

I must say I am getting pretty awesome at this whole grilling thing. I made pork tonight! I always seem to forget about pork. It's a great lean meat to add to your diet plus it's not that expensive! I also made my own ketchup for the 1st time! Ok Ok... I wouldn't say it tasted like ketchup exactly but it was yummy! (I topped the pork with ketchup lol.... can you spot the pork?...)

1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste;
2 tbsp vinegar or lemon juice;
1/4 tsp dry mustard;
1/3 cup water;
1/4 tsp cinnamon;
1/4 tsp salt;
1 pinch ground cloves;
1 pinch ground allspice;
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, optional;


Mix it together and BAM! 


So my mind was saying I still need to eat food....hmmm lets try that ice cream again! 

3-6 bananas (frozen)

1-2 tblsp of cocoa powder

2 tblsp  of nut butter.

Blend really good and enjoy! 

One thing that makes me SOOOO happy is seeing my fridge stocked with healthy food for my family!

 It makes me smile and I get really excited! This is only the crisper part of the fridge. (I am so happy we bought a fridge with this accessory!) We have a pantry and shelf full of fruits and veggies also. 

I have found it is so easy when you have the food ready to go ahead of time. Whenever I grocery shop I always plan on prepping it all and getting it ready to eat or make something with. It saves SO much time and money by not allowing things to go bad before you have time to make it. 

oh yeah! My husband told me if I make his lunches he will start eating what I am.... that may not seem like a cool thing to some people but to me I'm stoked! This means he is slowly starting to realize  maybe I am onto something... I can tell he is feeling better too. =) 

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*

Hiding Cinnamon Rolls on Day 13

I walk into the kitchen this afternoon to find my husband hunched over hiding a huge, fluffy, dripping with frosting cinnamon roll from Wheatfields. 

I was so jealous mad.

 His mom brought it by for fathers day and he thought I was in still snuggling with our little boy for nap time. He was trying to be sneaky.  I glared at him and told him I didn't like him anymore. 

And I thought having to feed my son an amazing looking cake at the bridal shower was hard not to eat. Seeing my husband have the cinnamon roll was really hard! (because I know all I had to do was ask and he'd give in.... happy wife makes a happy life =))

About 3 minutes later after I went to the bedroom, put my head in a pillow and screamed cooled down, I went back out to apologize. He had devoured it as fast as he could so "I wouldn't be tempted." 

Brad said, "Honey, if you weren't on this diet you could have some."

I looked at him annoyed,"Babe. If you ever listen to anything I say this ISN'T a diet. It's me eating whole foods for 30 days and nothing processed. I'm not counting calories, measuring my food or watching points. I'm not doing it to lose weight either."

Brad raises his eyebrows,"ooo-kay... then why are you doing it?"

 Me, "To train my body and brain how I should really be eating. I am re-setting my metabolism and my habits."

Brad, "You're so weird. But thats why I love you."

Me, "Way to suck up." 

I understand why these guys from Whole9 tell you to go 30 days eating only whole foods. It teaches you self discipline in every situation and there is an end in sight so it's doable. My hope is when the 30 days are up I have trained my body and mind that I do not need that junk. I'm not going to lie, right now it is hard and I feel like if I wasn't on this challenge I'd give in... in a heartbeat! 

Fitness today was a run outside. I normally try to do mainly sprints and plyometric training but I love throwing in some distance running 1-2 times a week. I ran 4 miles in 28:49 today. Which isn't horrible but I can tell I still have pain in my tummy from the infection! (can't wait for those antibiotics to kick in!)

After my run today today I made Brad my awesome Jicama Hash from day 7 and eggs. (He LOVED it!) 

Then Wyatt and i went to a bridal shower. I was a little nervous thinking maybe i should've eaten more or brought some nuts. But they had a great selection of fruit, sausage croissants, wraps, cream puffs and cake. It was REALLY beautiful! I had the sausage and eggs off the croissant, a bunch of fruit, and coffee. The hardest part was not being able to eat the cake with coffee! One of my favorite things is something sweet with coffee... I know i should've been a cop =)

Had a little more jicama hash for late lunch then I grilled AGAIN today! I made some hamburgers, brats (for the boys) and this amazing vegetable stir fry with bacon. Everyone ate their veggies tonight!!! 

I sautéed bacon pieces for about 5 minutes then added broccoli, red onions, and green bell peppers and let it all cook together.... it was OUTSTANDING.  Topped the burger with avocado mash. Doesn't it make you feel better just looking at this awesome meal!

We have no buns in the house because I am trying to get the guys used not needing bread all the time. it's working =)

Wyatt LOVES eating avocados from a bowl...

(and Brad thinks I'M weird??)

Time to snuggle with my honey, watch a movie and munch on some cherries! 

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*

I SCREAM for Ice cream!!! Day 12 of 30!

Shish Ka BOB kind of day today!
Had an awesome workout this morning! I will tell you that even though i have taken out my supplemental protein drinks and Xtend (which I LOVE), I thought I was going to start getting weaker.
SO WRONG.
I trained legs today and was lifting heavier than I've ever done for many movements. The crazy part? I wasn't even trying to challenge myself. (I still have to be cautious of my UTI, it's tender).
 I'm still in shocked at how strong I felt during my workout!

SO it is day 12 of this whole30 and I have noticed:
*My sleep is deeper
*Stronger performance during workouts
*No rashes on my skin like i normally get during summer

I think these are some awesome results so far for 12 days!

Breakfast was this AMAZING sweet potato hash and two eggs.

 Sweet potato hash:

• 3 strips bacon, chopped
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 medium sweet potatoes, about 8 ounces each, peeled and 1/4-inch diced
• 1/2 cup chopped red onion
• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
• 1 tablespoon jalapenos, chopped
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

in a 13-inch saute pan over medium-high heat, add the bacon and olive oil. When the oil heats and the bacon begins to sizzle, add the sweet potatoes and spread out as much as possible to allow the potatoes to rest in the pan in 1 layer. Leave the potatoes to cook until a quick toss reveals browning on the side in contact with the pan, about 5 minutes. Continue to toss and let stand until most sides of the potatoes are golden and the bacon bits are crisp, 3 to 5 minutes longer. Then add the onions, garlic, jalapenos, cumin and season with a nice pinch of salt and a grind or 2 of pepper. Cook the same way, allowing everything to sit in the heat of the pan for a minute or 2. Taste and re-season if necessary.

While i was making breakfast i decided to package all the sweet potatoes up, onions & bacon piecesfor fast future preparing! Because I WILL be making this ALOT!!! (have I told you how much I LOVE sweet potatoes?) 

Lunch was at a previous clients house of mine, who served us Kabobs, Asparagus and fruit... so perfect and healthy!! (I'm sure she knew not to serve anything less lol) 

The funny thing is thats what we were planing on making for dinner too! So we had Kabobs twice!I I had to try out the new grill! haha my girlfriend and I are the ones who were grilling on it! While the guys were indie with the kids gossiping. It was great! 

We were feeling a little creative so decided to grill bacon... just don't burn it. This picture was taken before the first batch was burned. Scooby loved it! 

Oh yeah!!! i also made healthy ice cream today! And it was REALLY REALLY good!!!!!! 

In a blender or food processor mix:

4-6 Frozen Bananas

2-3 tbsp cocoa powder

2-3 tablespoon nut butter (I'm sure peanut butter would be AMAZING but today I used almond butter for my whole30)

mix it All up an enjoy!!!!!

If THAT doesn't make your day then I don't know what would? Healthy ice cream thats actually yummy? Count me in please! 

I had to say no thank you to Schwan's Ice Cream today... urgh...it really looked (and sounded) amazing! I'm waiting for when it looks gross to me....... 

 I have always believed that you are who and what you surround yourself with but with this Whole30 challenge i am a GINORMOUS believer of it! 

I see how easy it is to get sucked into eating crap or think you deserve to eat something... who deserves eating junk food all day? Thats no treat for your amazing body that determines the rest of your life  depending on how you care for it.  

Why Sacrifice what you want most (feeling & looking healthier) for what you want now (an ice cream bar)?

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*

Breaking Point Day 10/30

I think i have come to a breaking point in this Whole30...

NOT with quitting it or giving up and no I didn't cheat. Ha. This feels like a relationship I HAVE to hold for 30 days before I break up... can you imagine what our world would be like if we had a certain time period we had to give a relationship before we were able to jump ship or keep diving further in? I am thinking new reality show yes? I get the credit for this one!

 I feel like I am breaking away from some cravings and learning to embrace this way of eating. I am starting to enjoy this process a little bit more. I am also embracing a bit too much almond butter. First it's cashews and now almond butter.
*sigh*
My body feels better inside but outside is not too happy with the unable to workout very intense (due to pelvic pain from my UTI not caused from Whole30, actually i think it saved me from anything worse.) and all these freaking delicious nuts and butters.

SO Now I know I'm not preggers and am feeling a little bit better. I am going to add in a 6 week fitness challenge in the loop. I start tomorrow.
I don't like scales... i actually despise them! I have seen too many of my clients ruin their progress because they relied on the scale to show them success. Instead it's ALL about the numbers, pounds, and progress pictures.

Examples:
How many reps can I do with a certain amount of weight and for how many sets?
How many sprints can i accomplish in a set time?
How many push ups with perfect form am i able to perform in one minute?
How many pull ups with perfect form can I accomplish in a minute?
How many inches am i losing from my stomach?
Are my glutes becoming rounder and firmer?
Are my shoulders looking more defined?
How do my clothes fit?

These are going to be how I measure my progress.
Feel free to join me.

Today on my whole30:
Breakfast was 2 eggs & 1/2 banana w/ 2 tblsp AB (almond butter)
Lunch... delish! Chicken, sausage, onions, garlic sautéed together w/ a dollop of avocado on a lettuce wrap! ( I know my Iphone isn't the best quality but it works!)

Wyatt throughly enjoyed his meal! Can you tell?

Snack was fresh organic ham wrapped around green apple pieces... one of my new favorite snacks!

Dinner consisted of a can of tuna and no salt added peas.... don't judge me it was awesome! Heat them up for 1 min and add natures seasonings, cheap, tasty, healthy dinner!

After cycle I always feel like I'm starving. Thanks goodness my husband made me a 3 egg, ham and pepper omelet! Never underestimate eggs for dinner! 

I should've been done after that but Wyatt wanted to share some dates with me and almond butter... I gave in. Notice how it's Wyatt's fault right? That was my choice. Yes I regret it. It is what motivated me to start my own fitness challenge tomorrow for 6 weeks though =) I had a breaking point and realization with how many calories I am consuming from the nuts and I decided I am going to use a meal plan also and not steer too far from it. It will be whole30 approved until my 30 days is up then depending on how I feel I may add rolled oats, protein powder, Xtend and Ezekiel bread back in.... and I may not we shall see!

I'm pretty pumped and nervous for my fitness challenge... 

Why am i nervous? After all I AM a trainer. I LOVE working out and challenging myself right?

Well I am nervous because I haven't been able to really workout hard for about 3 months from a previous subluxtion in my shoulder (band slipped while doing assisted pull ups) and then this pelvic pain came on when my swelling in my traps went down. Not to mention I just told everyone what I want to do so feel like if I don't do it I will be the ultimate failure. 

Time to get these muscles back and even better than before!

I am excited to share and hope to inspire along the way!

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*

Not Pregnant and day 8!

Guess What!?
I'm NOT pregnant.... I know you're probably thinking Wait... What? I didn't know you thought you were....I knew SOMETHING was wrong and felt all the signs of a pregnancy so I was hoping that was what was making my body act crazy! I figured by starting this Whole30 challenge it would alleviate the symptoms... it did not. :-(  I made a Dr apportionment because something was just not right. Turns out I had an ovarian cyst rupture and a minor bladder infection.... Isn't that just amazing?

Have you ever tried unsweetened cranberry juice? It is SO tart!!! That is my new best friend this week!
 I am relived to know why I have been having a hard time working out, feeling nauseous, tired, really bloated, and going potty all the time. I would rather it have been because I was pregnant. That's more enjoyable than looking like I have a small watermelon in my abdomen, running to the bathroom every 5 minutes, and experiencing pain in  my pelvic. This may be too much info, I apologize.
No this won't mean I'm off the diet (dang it). It just means i will need to not drink coffee (ahhhh) instead tea, take out some fruits for a little while until I feel back to normal. Almost like a small cycle of detox. I'm ready to feel like myself again and be able to lift heavy and run sprints!

Back to Whole30 Day 8.  Nothing too exciting today I made the hash browns again.... ate them for breakfast and lunch! I still love em! Dinner was random. Sunflower seeds, carrots, and rotisserie chicken. Still within the Whole30 so no negative points!!!
We went to a baseball game tonight, Wyatt was over flirting with the pretty girls!

Isn't this cute! He's dancing and being a silly man! All these vegetables sure do make him feel pretty awesome! =)

Thanks for stopping by! Sorry today was boring, Time to for some beauty sleep!!

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*

It's all in the Mind. Day 6 Whole30

"It's all in your mind."

"You got this!"

"Don't think about failing (or falling) just focus on what you are doing at this time."

"one step in front of the other..." 

These and many other thoughts were running through my head during the warrior dash today. It started at 1pm during the hottest time of the day. My husband was my partner and I named our team Pumpin Hunnies! (He's such a good sport!) I did have to ditch him after first half mile because he's not a runner (he likes lifting a little bit more.) So my time probably would've been 3-5 minutes faster but I don't mind I love him anyways!

Team Pumpin Hunnnies & Scoob! 

See! I told you he was a good sport! He even wore the silly shirts I made for us!

 And posed for silly pictures with me! (wyatt is still learning on perfecting his bicep flexing ;-))

The Dash was a lot of fun and was certainly a mental challenge for me more than physically. I feel pretty good about the running after I left the hubby. I will admit I walked 1/2 of two hills. (they sucked!) 

The hardest part for me was being scared I was going to hurt myself since I have experienced 2 shoulder surgeries (one on each shoulder from crazy incidents). I went slow through some of the obstacles to keep good form that I had to sprint the running part in order to get a decent time. All in all It was a BLAST! 

As for the Whole30 diet.... DAY6 baby and still going STRONG!!!!!!

 It was HARD today. 

Breakfast i finished off the Brussells Sprouts! YEAH! Eggs, sprouts, and sausage... yum.

See it looks so yummy and healthy!

I was unable to have a red bull or any kind of energy drink from the gas station stop. *Urgh* I got a water and coffee. 

After the race they had bananas, granola, and beer!

 I had a Banana.....just one.

Then a turkey leg... YUMMY! It was huge so I couldn't finish it.

The hardest part of the day was my husband and his buddy going into this old fashioned ice cream fountain shop for malts..... They kept saying "c'mon you just ran a warrior dash you deserve it!" I said no thank you! I ate my cherry Larabar instead (AWESOME snack if need something quick!)

Cherries, almonds and dates. yum.

I had a SMALL ziplock of mixed raw nuts as well.

For dinner I ate Left overs from yesterday. My husband had BBQ brisket.

As you can see there are A LOT of obstacles I face in my daily life but have made a commitment to this 30 day challenge and am pretty solid on not giving in. 

It is AMAZING what your mind can do when feeding it positive thoughts. For example crawling under barbwire fences, up steep walls with no support, trudging through mud, running hills and then being tempted with old fashioned fountain ice cream after it all because you "deserved" it.

No Thanks. I deserve to keep the promise i made and feel confident in my ability to follow through with it. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger more confident and smarter if you allow it too. 

I need a cup of tea and some sleep. Good night World! Thanks for motivating me to keep on the 30 day Whole food challenge! My hope is that I can inspire others to do the same! 

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*

So BERRY cute Day 5 ... Awww NUTS!

TGIF! Now if only I could take a break from this Whole30 for the weekend like "normal" diet plans work I'd be super ecstatic! Unfortunately That's not how it works! No cheats on this bad boy! Today was another day of drooling at my sons breakfast. He decided to eat oatmeal TWICE today! I never envied a 2 year old so much.

You may be wondering if I am feeling any changes yet? Mentally I am being challenged for sure! Especially considering that my guys in the house are not following my Whole30. Which means I am surrounded by the food I am not supposed to eat and even have to cook it for them! If I weren't telling the world wide web about this challenge with this blog  I would tempted to "sneak" bites here and there because who is going to know!? I wouldn't have to report them to anyone so who cares? Then I would wonder why I am not getting the results I want in the end. I am a strong believer in karma so i will tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

If this is YOU taking this BLT's (Bites, licks, & tastes) and are wondering why you are not achieving your fitness goals... seriously write EVERYTHING down (measured and all) for 1-2 weeks to get a real idea of what is going in your body! You will be SHOCKED!

Back to how I am feeling... Mentally... challenged. BUT Every day I am proud of myself for not giving in. I just say only 25 more days to go Lallenia!

Emotionally, (Yes emotions and food go hand in hand especially if you are a female. I read a study about how women use food to express their emotions and Men eat because it sounds and/or taste good.) I get a little irritated when I realize I cannot have what my brain is telling me I want.

 Today for instance; we do our grocery shopping and to keep my 2 year old boy happy I always get some trail mix from the bins (I weigh it and pay for it) for him and my brother to snack on so they aren't driving me bonkers! Here is Wyatt lining up ALL the M&M's on the railing and telling me what color they are... I didn't care how smart he was at the time I just wanted to eat them.
SO I fished in the bag for the almonds instead hoping i would accidentally pull out a M&M and not realize what it was until I swallowed it.
No such luck.
He and Travis ate them all. So my emotions are fighting and getting upset because I REALLY wanted all of them just one. Then I felt proud and happy I didn't give in. This goes back and forth when your brain is trying to break habits. I expect it to happen now and understand I do not need to give in to the "evil" brain.

Physically, since I am being so honest here... I am a little nervous because I feel like I am not going to really SEE any changes expect weight gain from the outside if I keep snacking on so many nuts. I need to really crack down and portion size it or I will be needing super size clothing. Inside physical changes, I definitely notice more energy especially if I am unable to get as much sleep as I should I find I am able to cope a lot better!


Awww NUTS! Which brings me to my day today.... nuts nuts nuts... they are good but VERY easy to go overboard on like i am positive I did today... I know they are whole30 approved but i am sure not as many as I ate. No worries they are raw! (positive thinking) All my snacks were either almonds, cashews or sunflower seeds. I did have a handful of dried cherries with no added sugar also.

Breakfast was the same AGAIN! And probably will be tomorrow because we are almost done with those Brussels sprouts (i guess I'm the only one who likes them).

Lunch was my Tuna Recipe from Day 2 onto lettuce leafs... LOVE!

Dinner was supposed to be spaghetti squash with a meat sauce i made homemade (paleo style) but instead I over cooked my squash, we will just call it mush.

So I microwaved a sweet potato and put the turkey sauce over that.... its was ok.

This will make you smile. I let Wyatt play in the sink when I cook to keep him occupied & out of trouble. I was washing some fruit so he decided to help:

SO BERRY CUTE! He makes me smile (most of the time) BIG!

I better get to bed before I eat anymore nuts and I need to rest up for the Warrior Dash! ( I made Tee-shirts for the hubby and i.... hehe you will see our team name tomorrow.... =))

Sweet Dreams!

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*

Day 2 of 30....

Have you ever looked in a fridge full of nutritious food only to find nothing you want to eat?
That is how I have been feeling today. I seriously was not craving anything, not even the donuts left over from my brother last night that were sitting on the counter. I have to say I was proud of myself. (little successes like this add up so be sure to praise yourself!)

I worked out this morning and normally have 1/4 cup oatmeal, a tblsp PB and scoop of chocolate  protein... not for 29 more days.... instead I had a cup of coffee with 1 tablespoon of coconut milk and a piece of watermelon pre-workout. 

 The other challenge was not being able to drink my lemon lime Xtend during my workout! I LOVE that stuff! It is processed so instead I settled for water. Ha. This is really making me feel as if maybe I do not eat as healthy and natural as I always thought! I am excited to share my successes and struggles to inspire you to join me and live a healthier lifestyle.

Breakfast-
After my workout I ate my eggies from the Hubby then starring in the fridge, undecided, (I normally have Ezekiel Toast) I settled for a spinach cabbage salad with balsamic vinegar... yes at 730am that is what i ate. I would LOVE to tell you it was so delicious...yeah no. I didn't feel like making anything & it was right there. I WILL tell you I felt a lot more energy than normal later in the morning. 

A little lot off topic: Are you ready for this?...I am in the process of potty training a 2 year old boy...  Wyatt  has been doing pretty well the past couple months sitting on the potty, having little successes here and there. This week I decided I am going to crack down and REALLY get that boy in big boy underwear since he appears ready. I sit him on the potty and he tells me in his sweet (still learning how to pronounce words) voice "no poopy mommy...go out n' pay (play)"

I then go to get changed out of my workout clothes to go play with him in his little pool. I hear my little brother yell at me. "Can you PLEASE put his diaper back on!? He is gross!"  I go to the kitchen and Travis proceeds to tell me that Wyatt pooped. I looked and he was sure enough naked but no poop in sight. I said I don't see it. Travis points to the trash can. I open it and sure enough there is a Wyatt poop in the trash.... ohmygoodness. I didn't even know what to say. I ask Wyatt about it... he says in that sweet voice... "Nooooo mommy.... that scooby's ucky poo poo." (Scooby is our 180lb Great Dane I am pretty sure he's ucky poo poo would fill up the trash can) How on earth do kids learn to be so devious and conniving at age 2? I'm still laughing.

Snack-
I snacked on cashews, watermelon, cherries and berries in no particular order.

Lunch-
I made an AWESOME tuna salad!!! 1 big can of tuna, 1 avocado, chopped onions, chopped carrots, some garlic and natures seasoning spices. I was a little sad i could not have the mayo like my boys but surprisingly it did not need any! The avocado was perfect! I put it in a lettuce wrap. This will be a staple for me from here out! Plus Wyatt LOVED it too (always a plus)!

Snack-
According to Whole30 You do not have to snack. I'm used to eating 4-6 times a day so I do. I am SO happy one of my favorite snacks is allowed to eat; A banana and Peanut butter... without the peanut butter, I used Almond butter, still delish!

Dinner-
Dinner was jalapeño chicken sausage (organic and very minimally processed) i need to double check to make sure it is legit but I pretended it was for the night. Along with brussels sprouts and yellow squash  seasoned with natures seasoning. SO good! Again... wyatt LOVED this too! We're on a roll today with the family! 

Evening snack consisted of handful almonds, decaf coffee, coconut milk & cocoa powder, was really yummy and relaxing.

Day 2 success!! Whoop!!

More information for the whole30? Here is their website... check it out I am still learning too! --> http://whole9life.com/start/

Keep yourself Healthy, Fit, and Fabulous!!

*Lallenia*